Folkestone`s First Micro Pub The Firkin Ale House Opens

The FREE Magazine of the Ashford, Folkestone
& Romney Marsh Branch of CAMRA - Winter 2012
Firkin Ale House
Landlord Neil King
Folkestone’s First Micro Pub
The Firkin Ale House Opens
Mash Winter on
2012page
Page23
1
MoreMarsh
information
Editorial
Now that the nights are drawing in and the
Jubilee and Olympics are events of the past,
it’s time to think of Christmas when the pubs
will either be crowded or closed to enable
the landlord time with their family. In this
edition we have added an article detailing
where you can buy “Real Ale in a Bottle” to
enable you to drink quality beer at home
when you can’t get to the pub. I’m sure that
there are many more outlets that sell quality
bottle beer but I’m waiting for someone to
tell me!!
Shirley, our friendly cook, has produced a
recipe than can easily be adapted to use
the leftover Christmas poultry in a beer
based casserole. Shirley has tested it on
her husband Keith using several different
beers but believes that Bombardier is best.
A Folkestone girl appears on the Wye Valley
Contents
Page No.
2013 calendar (see page 20); unfortunately
you will have to go closer to the Wye Valley
to sample their excellent beers. I have
personally drunk quite a few of their beers as
my daughter lives in that area.
Peter our own travelling minstrel has been
to the West Country and visited the Otter
Brewery, beers that you can occasionally
obtain locally.
Well the Editorial Team hope that you enjoy
reading this edition of Marsh Mash and wish
you a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous
New Year and a desire that the Chancellor
doesn’t keep the Beer Duty Escalator in the
next budget.
Advertisers
Page No.
Bell Inn, Ivychurch
29
Bowl Inn, Hastingleigh
15
Chambers, Folkestone
32
Editorial
2
Chubby Chicken Company
17
What’s On
3
Cinque Ports Arms, New Romney
21
Christmas Is Coming - Stock Up On A Bottle
5
Drum Inn, Stanford
23
The Kent Green Hop Ale Festival
6
Farriers Arms, Mersham
14
Otters Are Green
8
George Inn, Bethersden
26
Kent Walks
10
Hop Fuzz Brewery, West Hythe
11
Old Forge Brewery Interview
12
Lifeboat Inn, Folkestone
14
Shirley’s Cheery Beery Chicken Recipe
16
Old Dairy Brewery, Rolvenden
18
Old Dairy - Beer of the Festival
18
Oneonetwo Wines, Hythe
5
Visit to the Samuel Peto
19
Plough Inn, New Romney
26
Barmaid to Calendar Girl
20
Podge’s Belgium Beer Tours
19
Folkestone’s First Micro Pub
23
Red Lion, Snargate
10
Pub News
24
Shepherd and Crook, Burmarsh
14
In Memoriam / Bar Billiards
26
Six Bells, Woodchurch
4
Save Our Pint
27
Star inn, St Mary in the Marsh
11
Beer Escalator Reaches Portugal
28
Swan inn, Wittersham
29
Letters
28
Three Mariners, Hythe
4
How The World Has Changed
30
White Hart, Hythe
15
Marsh Mash Information / CAMRA LocAle
31
White Hart, Ndewenden
4
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 2
What’s On
Branch Meetings
Social Events - Continued
Friday 12 April - Folkestone. Meet Samuel
Peto 6pm and then on to Guildhall and
British Lion.
For further details on
meetings, socials and beer
festivals check out WHAT’S
BREWING, visit our branch
website or join our Yahoo
Group (members only).
CAMRA Festivals
Branch Meetings start at 19:30
9 January - Dering Arms, Pluckley
13 February - GBG 2014 Selection Meeting,
County Hotel, Ashford
Social Events - All Welcome
Saturday 15 December - Day Trip to Lewes
10:32am Marsh Link train from Ashford to
Brighton (see website for further details).
Saturday 29 December - Christmas Social at
the Foundry, Canterbury, booking essential
via email: [email protected].
Saturday 5 January 2013 - POTY Minibus
tour - leaves Ashford Railway Station at
11.30am, booking essential.
Tuesday 15 January - Meet Firkin Ale
House, Folkestone 6pm then onto Chambers
and Pullman.,
Thursday 24 January - Hythe Night, meet
Kings Head 6pm.
Winter Ales Festival, Manchester
Wednesday 23 - Saturday 26 January 2013
White Cliffs Winter Ales Festival, Dover
Friday 1 - Saturday 2 February 2013
Planet Thanet Beer Festival, Margate
Friday 29 - Saturday 30 March 2013
K&ESR Beer Festival, Tenterden
Friday 14 - Saturday 15 June 2013
Kent Beer Festival, Canterbury
Thursday 19 - Saturday 21 July 2013
Great British Beer Festival, London
Tuesday 13 - Saturday 17 August 2013
Other Beer Festivals
Six Bells Woodchurch
Friday 22 - Sunday 24 February 2013
Leas Lift Winter Beer Festival, Folkestone
Friday 15 - Sunday 17 March
Cinque Ports Beer Fest, New Romney
Friday 26 - Sunday 28 April
Saturday 9 February - Visit To Butchers
Arms, Herne and then onto Margate, meet
Butchers Arms 12pm.
Chambers Easter Beer Fest, Folkestone
Thursday 28 March - Monday 1 April 2013
Wednesday 27 February - Tenterden Night,
meet White Lion Hotel 7pm.
Six Bells Woodchurch
Friday 17 - Sunday 19 May 2013
Saturday 16 March - Broadstairs Micopubs,
meet at the Chapel 12pm.
The Bell Inn, Ivychurch
Friday 5 - Sunday 7 July 2013
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 3
The Three Mariners, Hythe
Traditional Free House, Offering up to Seven
Ever Changing Ales and Ciders from around our County
Good Beer Guide
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
-“Runner up”
CAMRA Regional
pub of the year 2010, 2011
-Facebook Group:
The Three Mariners, Hythe
Live acoustic music every Sunday evening.
Hanks Open mic, last Sunday of each month
Traditional music; sing-along’ ‘play- along’
last Tuesday of every month.
Fun Quiz night first Tuesday of every month.
Opening times.
Tuesdays – Sunday 12pm till close.
Mondays 4pm till close.
No Food
No Juke Box
No Fruit Machines
No Pool Table
No Distractions other than Good Beer, Cider
and our award winning barmaids!!
37 Windmill Street, Hythe, Kent CT21 6BH - Telephone: 01303 260406
The Six Bells, Woodchurch
The White Hart
A charming 470 year old pub always offering 4 real ales
Delicious Home Cooked Food served 7 days a week
Bed & Breakfast (6 en suite rooms) - Large Garden
Find us in the CAMRA 2013 Good Beer Guide
Runner-up Pub of the Year 2009
Angie and Ray offer a warm welcome at their
CAMRA award winning village pub. Currently
offering six real ales with more to come and
freshly prepared Traditional English Food.
The Six Bells is open all day every day
from 12.00 midday, til mid-night
Beer Festival 22nd - 24th February 2013
Rye Road, Newenden, Kent TN18 5PN
Telephone: 01797 252166
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.thewhitehartnewenden.co.uk
The-White-Hart-Newenden
Everyone made very welcome
Bethersden Road, Woodchurch, Kent, TN26 3QQ
Tel: 01233 860246 Website: www.6-bells.co.uk
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 4
Christmas Is Coming - Stock Up On A Bottle
There are two types of bottled beer,
pasteurised then carbonated and “real”
bottled beer that continues to mature in the
bottle, usually identified with “CAMRA says
this is REAL ALE” on the label.
For several years now I have been trying to
compile a list of Off Licences, Wine Bars, Restaurants or even Supermarkets that regularly
stock Real Ale in a bottle. The only response
up until now has been Kevin at OneOneTwo
in Hythe High Street, who always has a wide
selection of bottled beers on offer, including
several brewed in Kent.
I have recently been informed, at long last,
of three establishments in central Folkestone
where interesting bottled beers can be purchased. Googies on Rendezvous Street has
bottled conditioned beers from Old Dairy
as well as beers from Belgium and the USA
(also highly recommended coffee).
Just round the corner at the top of the Old
High Street, is the latest outlet - County
Fayre where all the produce are from Kent,
which includes cheese, jam, apples, soaps,
chocolate, wines and Romney Marsh wool.
Robert Lundie opened the shop in August
2011 and started to sell bottled beers in
June 2012. Recently there were 8 beers from
Nelson brewery, 4 from Abigale, 5 from Old
Dairy and 3 ciders. And there’s a discount
oneonetwo wines
We stock over 20 Kentish Beers
for when you can’t get to your local!
Old Dairy Seasonal "Snow Top"
And Shepherd Neame "Xmas Ale"
Both Now Available
International Beer Challenge 2012 :
Gold Medal-Winning "Late Red"
And "Curious Brew"
Kentish Beers Stocked Here!
Mix & Match any 12 bottled
Ales and get 15% off
112 High Street, Hythe, CT21 5LE
Telephone: 01303 266301
for CAMRA members on production of their
membership card.
Thirdly, just down the Old High Street is
Home Ground which has a variety of Belgian
and British beers and has held a joint Belgian
beer festival with Googies during August
bank holiday weekend over the last 3 years.
So if you fancy some good real ale buy a
few bottles for Christmas, or at any other
time, when the pubs are shut visit one of
the above and enjoy quality beer to drink at
home but beware there will be yeast sediment in the bottom of the bottle. Enjoy.
If you are aware of other establishments that
sell quality bottled beers please let us know
so that they can be included next time.
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 5
The Kent Green Hop Ale Festival
This was an exceptional festival that
showcased many of the things that are
good in this world. Namely Kentish brewers,
Kentish hops and, especially, Green Hop
ales. These are beers that use un-kilned,
sometimes known as green or fresh, hops.
They are normally dried to ensure a supply
all year round. This process ensures that
most of the oils, acids and esters are retained
but inevitably some tastes disappear or are
diminished. Green hop ales are generally
fuller in flavour and impart a smooth fresh
taste. They do not necessarily have more
bitterness than standard cask ales.
The festival was actually the precursor to
Green Hop Ales fortnight and ran from
Friday 28th to Sunday 30th September. Yet it
was the only place where it was possible to
taste all of the beers although some of the
county’s premier free houses took a number
of them. The celebration was the brainchild
of Eddy Gadd of the Ramsgate Brewery in
conjunction with Jon Mills of Canterbury
Brewers who are based at the Foundry
brewpub in Canterbury. It was sponsored by
Simply Hops, the wholesaler.
It was actually a festival within a festival as it
was part of the Canterbury Food and Drink
Festival which has a number of local drink
producers’ stands. Breweries were Nelson of
Chatham and Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds).
These two breweries were cheek by jowl
with a number of stalls selling cider. Namely
they were Rough Old Wife from Old Wives
Leas; Biddenden Vineyards (wine and cider);
Hard Core from Chartham; Dudda’s Tun of
Doddington and the Kent Cider Company of
Faversham. Somehow I’d missed Kentish Pip
Cider of Bekesbourne and Big Tree Cider of
Hartley both of whom were in the program.
The festival was opened by Jon Mills. Please
see photograph of him being applauded
by, amongst others, Eddie Gadd and
Colin Aris of the
Conqueror Alehouse
in Ramsgate.
Back in the small
tent, I found I was
totally spoilt for
choice. There were
twenty-four beers
from eighteen
breweries! However
pleasant, it was still
a dilemma as each
beer was unique
and I wanted to try
them all! So I made
the momentous decision to return on the
following day, Saturday. This meant I could
have twelve half pints on each day and
return again on Sunday if I failed and I didn’t.
There were too many beers to list, so I’ll stick
to mentioning the highlights. But firstly,
let me say that of the twenty-four on offer,
I thought only one was substandard and
another was indifferent, yet drinkable. It
would be wrong to say which breweries
produced them, as it was probably the first
time they’d done anything like this. But, of
course, this left a mere twenty-two that were
absolutely superb. An interesting feature is
that the hops had to be picked from the bine
no more than twelve hours before being
used in the brew.
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 6
Most of the beers were new recipes but
some were normal beers with the green
hops replacing the usual dried hops. They
came from all over Kent and ranged from the
largest, Shepherd Neame, right down to the
smallest, I think, Black Cat of Groombridge
with it’s 2.5 barrel plant. I must add that
Shepherd Neame’s Oast Dodger (5.5%)
was produced on their 4 barrel plant, so
difference in this case is actually not so
much.
A notable ale was a joint production
between Canterbury Brewers and
Canterbury Ales. You may have heard that US
President Obama has a small brewery in the
a go at one of the President’s other recipes
some time. On a similar subject, this was
certainly a festival to meet the brewers
and talk about the beers. At one time I
counted no less than six serving the thirsty
customers.
I was intrigued by two beers from Old
Dairy which were both 4.0% and used
precisely the same ingredients in the same
proportions with the exception of the
green hops which were respectively Target
and Bramling Cross. It was interesting to
compare them at the same time. And there
was Goldings Mild, from the Swan on the
Green brewpub of West Peckham, the only
White House, on which his chefs brew beers
that are served to his guests. After a long
struggle his three recipes were revealed, but
not until the freedom of information act had
been evoked. So here we were drinking the
same beer as the President with the only
difference being ours had green hops in
it. Our Obama’s Honey Ale (4.7%) uses the
same Kentish hops as the original, East Kent
Goldings and Fuggles.
I was chatting to Tonie Prins of the
Hopdaemon Brewery, who didn’t exhibit a
beer, and he thought he might like to have
example of this style. It used the Early Bird
variety of Goldings and was probably too
bitter to be a true mild, but was really nice all
the same.
I guess it will be on the last weekend in
September again so look out for it during
2013. I cannot extol the sheer wonderfulness
of this little festival except to say it’s the best
I’ve visited so far this year and I’ll be there
again next year.
Bob Thompson
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 7
Otters are Green – yet another drinking adventure by
our walking, singing, drinking CAMRA member
As part of the choir’s annual away days this
year, we were singing at Exeter Cathedral
during the first week of August, so what
better for our day off than a visit to the
Otter Brewery, Luppitt, some 24 miles from
Exeter. Our Musical Director’s daughter lives
in Teignmouth and organised it all so all we
had to do was to turn up at the right place
at the right time and the minibus would
take us there and bring us back to Exeter.
One of the great Generals said that “No plan
survives the first contact with the enemy.”
How right he was.
not serve me. The choice between a pub
that was definitely shut and one that might
be shut was considered for a time – and after
a few seconds I started off for Luppitt.
Getting There.
I had already arranged to do some walking
around the area and arranged to meet the
rest of the group at the brewery in time for
the tour, so after a bus ride to Honiton and
a pint of Otter Bright at “The Holt” – the
brewery’s first pub in Honiton – and the
purchase of a locally grown pastie for lunch,
I took the local bus to Dunkeswell where the
OS map showed that the bus would stop
outside the pub. The bus did indeed stop
outside a pub – which had apparently closed
a year or so before. The map was cursed and
consulted anew.
The day was hot (yes, really!) and after
some steep uppy-downy bits I found a
quiet place for pastie, water and a look at
the map and found myself in a quandary.
[Having escaped from the quandary with
nothing more than a penknife and the help
of a passing stoat – but I digress]. I could
either go through Luppit down (and up) a
couple of steepish hills, arrive at the pub at
about 1630 with little hope of it being open
and with the possibility of continuing to
the brewery peppered with buckshot from
the aforementioned landlady, or continue
straight to the brewery. The brewery direct
route was therefore taken.
At a previous local branch get-together,
Chris Excel another member who likes to
wander using public transport, had told me
of a pub at Luppitt, near Honiton, which had
real ale and a grumpy landlady who might
I arrived at the brewery early but was
entertained well as the day-shift was
departing. Finding the place using a new OS
map was fairly easy (ST 179 080), but there
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 8
was absolutely no sign of the place from
any of the surrounding roads. The minibus
arrival time arrived with no sign of the rest
of the group so I went to the top of the drive
to wait for it. It was only 30 mins late after
an extensive and bad-tempered tour of the
surrounding countryside – all of which had
the same post-code. So much for GPS and
sat-nav !
The Brewery.
As I said, the brewery is almost invisible
from any of the surrounding roads, (photo’
1). When the brewery was first started, the
idea was to make it as “environmentally
friendly” as possible. This friendliness covers
all aspects of the site – the buildings use
local materials and designs, the water for
the brewing is taken from the brewery’s own
well, and any waste water is passed through
reed beds and, after monitoring, goes back
into the River Otter. There is very little
unused waste. The only chimney has a slight
cloud of steam about it and all of the spent
hops are used as mulches in the reed beds
and surrounding gardens. The brewery
was described by Tim Kellow the guide as
being “a traditional tower brewery on it’s
side”. It was definitely horizontal, but with
a slight downward path for the essential
liquids so that pumping energy was kept to
a minimum.
The inside brought to mind the “forest”
of missile tubes on a submarine – all
scrupulously clean stainless steel and
aluminium, (photo’ 2). The methods and
recipes were traditional but the machinery
to make the beer was all very modern.
Most of you will know the basic method of
making beer, so I’ll not go over every detail,
but suffice it to say, wherever there is heat
given off by a cooling process, that heat is
piped to another location where heat is
required to warm something up. Then came
the barrel store; another building built into
the hillside and roofed with turf, (photo’ 3).
The steady temperature is maintained for
10 months of the year without need of any
extra heating or cooling, a large air-lock
helps keep the steady temperature and that
led us to – you guessed it - the “Hospitality
Area” (photo’ 4) where six of the Otter range
were available, plus a splendid spread of
locally caught sausages and burgers. So the
evening ended with good food, good beer
and lots of talk about beer (and otters) with
sunset views over the valley.
Peter Chamberlain
Editors note:- occasionally Otter Ales appear
in local free houses and are on the Enterprise
list, I can recommend them so if the
opportunity arises do try them or persuade
your landlord to get some in.
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 9
Kent Walks
The author Brian J. Rance has produced
this book which describes his experiences
of walking throughout Kent on seven
marathon journeys, typically from the
London suburbs to the Channel Coast. It is
much more than just a walking guide book;
it is also a companion guide celebrating
the geography, geology and landscape, the
flora and fauna, and the history, people and
places of this part of Southern England. The
book will be of interest to walkers and nonwalkers alike.
Throughout this illustrated book there are
plates containing information on many
subjects, route maps, wildlife profiles and a
selection of the author’s own ‘place’ poems.
The Red Lion, Snargate
Situated on the B2080 1 mile from
Appledore Station on bus route 11A
A classic, unspoilt pub specialising in beers from
small independent breweries dispensed by gravity
Local cider is always available, no food!
Real fires, marble-topped bar & bare floorboards
Unusual pub games and a spacious beer garden
Run by the same family for over 100 years
Listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide since 1985
Open Monday to Saturday 12 - 3pm & 7 - 11pm
Closed Monday evenings
Sunday 12 - 3pm & 7 - 10.30pm
Proprietor: Doris Jemison
This is a different kind of walking book in
terms of its scope and coverage, not least
because of the hundreds of miles walked by
the author in compiling this account.
The author describes the book as a
‘wonderful pub crawl through Kent’, and
takes every opportunity to call into as
many pubs as possible, and consume as
many pints of real ale as he can. The book
is littered with observations about the
various pubs he has visited, but in our own
patch, given that many of his walks start
or end on Romney Marsh, he is particularly
complimentary about the Star Inn, St Mary in
the Marsh but he also mentions other pubs
on the Marsh including the celebrated Red
Lion at Snargate.
The book is available from the Romney
Marsh Visitor Centre, Martello Bookshop Rye
and on-line from Amazon.
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 10
Pub open all day
every day
12:00 noon - 23:00
Restaurant open
every day
12:00 noon - 15:00
(last orders 14:30)
Bed & Breakfast
For more information please visit our website
www.thestarinn-themarsh.co.uk
or email us: [email protected]
Brian and Barbs McManus
offer a warm welcome
at the Star Inn
Come in and enjoy our house real ales
and 2 ever changing guest beers
The Star Inn
St Mary in the Marsh
Romney Marsh
Kent, TN29 0BX
Telephone: 01797 362139
19th & 20th December, Christmas Lunch
3 courses, from 12 -3 (last orders 2.30) £19.50
Christmas Day lunch, 5 courses, £37.50
Boxing Day Music
Please call in or phone for details
SEASON
Brewing quality casked beers
in the heart of Shepway, using natural
and local ingredients making our
beers taste as good as they look!
[email protected]
01303 230304
www.hopfuzz.co.uk
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 11
AL ALE
Brewery Interview Old Forge Brewery
Two Years On
What was the Origin and Cost of the
Brewery?
The Old Forge Brewery at The Farriers Arms,
Mersham was constructed in 2010 and
commissioned on 23 October of that year.
So it has now been operating for almost
exactly 2 years. The basic unit was recovered
from Whitby, in Yorkshire, by purchase of
the entire equipment of the redundant
Black Dog Brewery: but after transport to
Mersham, much of it (as expected) was
rejected, so that just the vessels, heat
exchanger and pumps were used. Despite
the necessarily extensive modification
and refurbishment by local craftsmen, the
erection of the vessels and the in-situ fitting
of pipes, valves and instrumentation (in
another local workshop), all followed by
dismantling and re-building on site, the
entire plant, with its initial supply of casks,
cost just £24,000 - much lower than quotes
we had received for an off-the-shelf brewery.
Furthermore, of this expenditure, nominally
£8000 was provided by a Grant from SEEDA
via the Kent Downs and Marshes LEADER
organisation, thus providing us with - we
believe - a very low price for a 5-barrel
facility.
Why did you want a Brewery and not just
become a Free House selling local Kent
Beers?
The idea of making ales, in the first instance,
came from one of the shareholders in the
pub who had great interest in and some
experience of brewing at home. He is now
the Head Brewer. We believed that operating
a Brewpub would be rewarding in itself
but also that it should attract local interest
and thus enhance trade. Additionally and
fortuitously, we had another far-away
shareholder who, as a master brewer, was
able to give guidance by phone, email
and occasional visit: and on top of these
advantages, the shareholder list included
electrical, civil, mechanical and chemical
engineers, all willing to give a hand. So
design, implementation and operating
proved to be quite successful, especially
with the skills of the local fabrication
companies.
Has Operating the Brewery posed any
Problems?
We were fortunate in having an absolutely
trouble-free start-up, albeit that it was at
just the half scale (2 1/2 barrels): and we
weren’t too proud to seek help so that this
first brew was overseen by a paid consultant.
Thereafter we went alone to the full scale,
equally successfully. We have though
suffered the need for pump repairs, to the
extent that we felt it advisable to purchase
extra pumps (new and used) which we
now carry as spares. In the first months, all
casks were being washed and sterilised by
hand; but quite early we designed and had
fabricated a heated cask-washer that has
proved to be very efficient and easy to use;
indeed this washer is almost indispensable
now. But probably the biggest problem is
the lack of floor-space, which amounts to
just 20 square metres! This space limitation
had obvious working disadvantages but
additionally it was difficult to optimise room
temperatures for both brewing and storing
of casks. The actual operating space still
remains tiny but we were able in due course
to take over an adjacent store-room that we
fitted with a chiller, all to facilitate storage
at 12 degrees Centigrade. Our casks are of
plastic construction and are beginning to
show signs of wear; but we expected this
and made the original purchase based
on cost and particularly delivery time.
Perhaps we’ll move to metal casks when
replacements become necessary.
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 12
Do you have just the Single Beer?
No, we have Farriers 1606 (at 3.7% ABV)
as our original and now flagship ale,
supplemented by seasonal and special
brews. The range includes:
“1606” - is our flagship beer and a quaffable
ale of 3.7% ABV, blended from 3 soft-roasted
malts and traditional Kent Hops giving the
Aroma of Lemon and Grass and a full malt
aftertaste in the mouth with a delicate
fruity not too bitter flavour leaving a fresh
lingering aftertaste.
“Harvest Plenty” - a full bodied ruby
coloured ale of 4.2% ABV, with ripe malt and
fruit tickling the taste-buds and reminding
us of the Autumn Harvest, a deep finish with
an intense hop and fruity finish.
“Christmas Ale” - only available at the
festive period (oddly enough)! Dark and
moody, hints of Cinnamon and Orange give
this strong ale (4.8%) that Dried Fruit hint,
with a balanced bitterness without a sweet
aftertaste.
“Summer Gold” – a bright, light, and
refreshing pale golden, hoppy ale with hints
of melon and fresh mown grass.
“Jubilee Celebration” - a blend of Medium
and Dark Crystal Malts to provide a rich
full malty, nutty flavour with a pale copper
colour, backed up with a pronounced fruity
Hop explosion and aroma by combining
Brambling Cross and Traditional Kent Hops.
With an ABV of 4.1%, it’s, just the Ale to
celebrate a unique occasion.
“Bishop’s Brew” - an excellent dark stout in
true Irish Style, combining Challenger and
Target Hops with an “extra” malt to give a
smooth 4.2%ABV beer, lingering hops and
black stout malts give a nutty finish and a
pale creamy head to top it off.
- but the range could be limitless.
What is your Output and whom do you
Supply?
The equipment is name-plated as 5 brewers’
barrels (20 firkins or casks) but we have
moved up to 6-barrel by routinely filling
vessels to capacity and topping up the hot-
liquor tank, mid-stream - a development
by one of our assistant brewers! Last year
we brewed 600 casks and this demanded
nominally 2 brews per month, on average:
we do though sometimes brew 3 times in
a month and then have a rest! Apart from a
small number of casks sent to beer festivals
and a handful to a few local pubs, all beers
are consumed on the premises of adjacent
Farriers Arms. We believe that we could
easily develop a reasonable outside trade
but the size of the premises is our limitation.
Furthermore, we don’t wish to impose too
heavily on our largely volunteer labour.
We have a spare fermentation vessel - fully
‘kitted’ but yet unused - that is actually in
the way currently; but we hang on to it, just
in case.
With just your Own Pub to sell your Ales,
is it a Problem to Obtain Pump Labels
Economically?
Again we are fortunate in having also
graphic design and professional artwork ‘at
our finger-tips’; a shareholder gives us half
dozen suggestions every time we come up
with a new brew: we merely have to choose
a name and the appropriate label appears.
(Perhaps she supplies others too but we’re
unaware of that, and just appreciate the free
service)!
Are you prepared to Discuss Costs?
We wouldn’t (indeed couldn’t) give exact
details; and in any case they wouldn’t
necessarily apply to any other brewery.
About £55 per cask is our achievement but
this is adversely influenced by the small
scale of production. It is positively aided
by largely free labour and by the reduced
Excise Duty applied to small breweries and
the cost is not yet accurately reflective of the
true maintenance expenses. Additionally
we make no allowance for depreciation
for brewery purposes (although we do so
for the overall pub). Naturally the costs for
malts and hops and finings and yeasts are
proportional to output of alcohol and may
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 13
be similar for all micro breweries. We use
fresh yeast for every brew and don’t retain
our own cultures.
Do you have Further Plans for Expansion or
Improvement?
We have discussed the lower-strength beers
such as 2.8 %ABV to take advantage in the
reduced beer duty, but so far haven’t done
anything about it. Also, we have thoughts
about a bottling plant but we would need
to extend the premises for that - unless we
were to contract out the bottling. After all,
the 3 famous Irish Whiskeys are all bottled at
Bushmills! During our 2 years of operation
we have substantially reduced our water
consumption per pint of beer produced and
we will continue to try to reduce all other
costs. We will also continue to introduce new
recipes: however there is no positive plan to
increase overall output volume, other than
perhaps volume per brew by increased tank
size. Times may change though...
THE
LIFEBOAT
INN
42 North Street
Folkestone, CT19 6AF
Selection Of Fine Real Ales
And Good Hot Meals Served
Also Sunday Roasts
Beer Garden & Harbour Views
Telephone: 01303 252877
Just off Folkestone Harbour
The Shepherd & Crook
Shear Way, Burmarsh TN29 0JJ
Tel: 01303 872336
Family run free house with a warm, friendly atmosphere
offering a choice of well kept ales:
Adnams bitter, guest ales and traditional cider
Good food served daily featuring traditional English dishes,
tasty vegetarian options and bar snacks
Freshness, quality and value for money with our ingredients
sourced from local farmers and grocers where possible.
Cooking times: 11 a.m. - 2.30 p.m. & 6.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. no food Sunday or Tuesday evenings
Dogs welcome
Open 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday , Saturday
11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday and Sunday
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 14
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 15
Cheery Beery Chicken
Two recipes for the price of one (both serve two) - here is the first:
Ingredients:
2 x tbsp Vegetable Oil (or 2oz/28g butter if you wish, for a richer dish)
2 x Chicken Breasts cut in to 2.5cm/1” cubes (or about 400g/14oz diced chicken)
2 x Cloves of Garlic peeled or use ½ tsp dried Garlic granules - optional
2 x Rashers Smoked Middle Cut Bacon (or 4 rashers back or 6 of streaky), chopped
2 x Medium Carrots, thinly sliced
1 x Medium Leak, thinly sliced
1 x Red Pepper, chopped
2 x tsp Dried Mixed Herbs
500ml Bottle of Real Ale – not too bitter (I used Wells Bombardier at 4.7%)
Black Pepper, to taste
Approx 2 x tbsp Gravy Granules (beef will give a richer taste and chicken a lighter taste)
Sugar, if necessary
Method:
1. Pour 200ml of the beer in to a glass and take a sip whenever during preparation of this
recipe – put the other 300ml to one side for later, as you will need it!
2. Heat the oil (over a medium heat) in a large saucepan (preferably not non-stick), add the
chicken (and garlic if using) and fry for 5 minutes - stir a couple of times during cooking.
3. Turn heat down and add the bacon, carrots, leek, red pepper and herbs – stir again.
4. Gently add the beer and stir – the mixture will froth a little, however it will settle down.
5. Turn heat up and gently bring to the boil, stirring all the time. Once boiling, turn the heat
down and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Taste it - add black pepper and more herbs if you think it needs it – stir again.
7. Add 1 tbsp gravy granules and stir – the mix will begin to thicken – add more gravy
granules, stirring all the time, until the desired thickness is achieved.
8. Turn heat off and taste – if the mix is too bitter, you may wish to add a small amount of
sugar.
9. Serve with plain boiled rice or mashed potato and vegetables and a beer of your choice.
Chef Notes:
There is no need to add salt as the bacon should provide enough flavour, however if you
wish to add salt, do so and be careful.
If you wish, pork or good quality meaty sausages (cut in to pieces) can be used instead of
chicken.
And now the second:
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 16
Try this with your Turkey (or Chicken) leftovers for Boxing Day:
1. Cut 350-400g / 12-14oz cooked meat into chunks or strips.
2. Heat the oil (over a medium heat) in a large saucepan, add the bacon, carrots, leek, red
pepper, herbs and garlic (if using) - stir.
3. Gently add the beer - stir.
4. Turn heat up and gently bring to the boil, stirring all the time. Once boiling, turn the heat
down and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Taste it - add black pepper and more herbs if you think it needs it – stir again.
6. Add cooked meat - stir.
7. Add 1 tbsp gravy granules and stir – add more gravy granules if required, stirring all the
time, until the desired thickness is
achieved.
8. Turn heat off and taste – if the mix
is too bitter, you may wish to add a
small amount of sugar.
9. Serve with plain boiled rice or
mashed potato and vegetables and
a beer of your choice.
NOTE: The meat must be hot all the
way through before serving.
Shirley Johnson
AFRM Branch Member
Chubby Chicken Co Ltd
Haymakers, Swamp Road
Old Romney, TN29 9SQ
Phone : 01797 366 377
Text : 07544 501 687
Make a change from sandwiches at Darts matches !
TRY OUR……..
Mediterranean, Tikka, Tandoori or Special ( hot )
Chicken drumsticks or Buffalo Wings ( 2 joint ) 2.5 kg bags
Plain fresh chicken breast ( skin off and boned ) 5 kg bags
Peri Peri whole breast chicken strips ( pre cooked & frozen )
Freshly Delivered Weekly
Other catering meat products available.
Please phone us for details and prices
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 17
Old Dairy wins Beer of the Festival
At the Branch’s Annual
Beer Festival, held in
conjunction with the
K&ESR at Tenterden,
Old Dairy Soft Top was
voted the “Champion
Beer of the Festival”.
The presentation was
made by the festival
organiser, Graham
Hodge, at another
successful Branch
event held in October
at the Brewery. Some
45 visitors attended,
including local
drinkers, CAMRA
members and local publicans, who enjoyed the afternoon and hospitality provided
by Will Neame and other members of the brewery team.
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 18
Visit To The Samuel Peto, Folkestone
On the 23rd October, local
CAMRA Branch Members
were invited by the Samuel
Peto Manager, Justin More,
to preview some of the ales
available at the forthcoming
Wetherspoons Real Ale Festival
(24 Oct - 11 Nov), which
included a visit to the cellar.
Amongst the beers sampled
during the evening (and
subsequent visits), were
beers especially brewed for
the Wetherspoons festival
and International Beers, not
usually available in this area
- including: Ishii Brewing
Minagof Pale Ale (Japan),
Tree Brewing Thirsty Beaver
(Canada), Ijbok (Netherlands)
and Steenbrugge Dubbel Bruin
(Belgium).
Others we sampled were:
Bank’s Howling Wolf, Adnam’s
Fisherman and Greene King
IPA Reserve, all of which went
down very well.
We particularly liked the 1/3
pint glasses, where you try
three beers for the price of one.
Photo left shows manager Justin
More pouring a beer
Around Bruges on 80 Beers & More: 2 – 5 Feb 2013
LambicLand Revisited: 19 – 22 April 2013
Beer & Battlefields: 23 – 27 May 2013
Beer & Heritage: 22 – 26 Aug 2013
www.podgebeer.co.uk
Ring 01245 354677 for details
Driving people to drink since 1994
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 19
Barmaid to Calendar Girl
The spirit of Dorothy Goodbody – a muchloved character from Wye Valley Brewery’s
family of ales - has been brought to life for
the brewery’s 2013 calendar cover. The
brewery worked with vintage fashion
designer Vivien of Holloway to transform
a modern-day beauty into their 1950’s
character with authentic vintage style.
Dorothy Goodbody is the brains and beauty
behind a delicious
range of real ales
from Wye Valley
Brewery. Legend
tells that Dorothy
was the daughter
of a Herefordshire
hop farmer in
the 1950’s and
renowned local
belle. Inspired by
the Herefordshire
countryside, she
developed a
passion for real
ale and created a
range of fantastic
ale recipes using
local hops.
The brewery
received over
90 applications
from potential
Dorothy’s, all
keen to represent
this character
in a fabulous
1950’s styled photo-shoot. To make this all
possible, the brewery came together with
vintage fashion designer Vivien of Holloway.
Vivien is a life-long 50’s lifestyle and fashion
enthusiast, and the Vivien of Holloway brand
of gorgeous vintage style clothing now has
fans across the globe.
Lucy Dearden, from Folkestone, who
previously worked as a barmaid at the
Three Mariners, Hythe won a fabulous prize
package including: a professional photoshoot package at one of Herefordshire’s
verdant hop-farms, luxurious overnight stay,
a beautiful 1950’s style dress from Vivien
of Holloway, framed photo from the shoot,
copies of the calendar and a case of Dorothy
Goodbody’s ales!
Jennie Hermolle,
Marketing
Executive
from Wye
Valley Brewery
commented
‘We were
overwhelmed by
the response to
this competition
– and there were
so many fantastic
entries – it was
really hard to
pick just one
winner! But in
the end, Lucy’s
entry won over
judges for her
spirited prose
[explaining why
she would be a
great Dorothy for
the day] and her
winning smile.”
Lucy Dearden,
comments “I
had a great time on the photo-shoot, it was
amazing to be transformed into the 1950’s
look, the clothes were beautiful. It was
surprisingly hard work though – I certainly
deserved a bottle of Dorothy Goodbody’s
Golden Ale by the end of the day!”
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 20
To celebrate the local hops used in Dorothy
Goodbody’s ales, the backdrop for the
photo-shoot was the verdant hops at
Pridewood Farm. Winner Lucy was joined for
the day by runner-up and local girl Hannah
Tuffin. Percival the farm Jack Russell also had
his 15 minutes of fame when he posed with
Lucy in one of the photos!
Wye Valley Brewery is a traditional, family
owned, regional brewery, based in Stoke
Lacy, Herefordshire. Founded by ex Guinness
brewer Peter Amor, the brewery began
in 1985 and in 2002 it moved from the
old stable block of The Barrels, an historic
18th century Hereford coaching inn, to a
much larger site in Stoke Lacy, where it is
now recognised as the leading cask ale
brewery in the county. In 2002 Peter’s son
Vernon, took over as Managing Director. The
brewery has grown every year since it was
established and investment in the brewery
continues with the installation of a new
brew house in 2012.
Dorothy Goodbody is a registered trademark
of Wye Valley Brewery Limited. She has
a range of real ales including Dorothy
Goodbody’s Wholesome Stout (4.6% ABV,
CAMRA Champion Bottle-Conditioned Beer
of 2008), Goodbody’s Golden Ale (4.2% ABV)
Dorothy Goodbody’s Country Ale (6.0% ABV,
GOLD in The International Beer Challenge
2011), and new to the range Dorothy
Goodbody’s Blissful Brown Ale (4.6% ABV).
All the Dorothy Goodbody ales only use
fine local hops (whole hop cones) grown at
hop-farms within 10 miles of the Wye Valley
Brewery.
The 2013 Wye Valley Brewery calendars are
available to purchase at£4.49 inc P&P from
the brewery shop or online at
www.wyevalleybrewery.co.uk.
PICTURED IS: Winner Lucy Dearden, amongst
the hops at Pridewood Farm near Ledbury.
CINQUE PORTS ARMS - Freehouse
Open all day - every day
from midday
Real ales, good food & large
attractive enclosed garden
We run 2 Beer Festivals each year
with hog roast and lots of live music
next Festival, Friday 26 - Sunday 28 April
Come and try our
delicious food, freshly prepared
by our new Chef
who has moved from
the Royal Oak, Brookland
Telephone: 01797 361894 - Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cinqueportsarms.co.uk
1 High Street, New Romney, Kent TN28 8BU
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 21
of Two Halves
A Campaign
Join CAMRA Today
Complete the Direct Debit form below and you will receive 15 months membership for the price
of 12 and a fantastic discount on your membership subscription.
Alternatively you can send a cheque payable to CAMRA Ltd with your completed form, visit www.camra.org.uk/joinus or call 01727 867201.
All forms should be addressed to Membership Department, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW.
Your Details
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For Young Member and concessionary rates please visit
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abide by the Memorandum and Articles of Association
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Campaigning for Pub Goers
& Beer Drinkers
Enjoying Real Ale
& Pubs
Join CAMRA today – www.camra.org.uk/joinus
Instruction to your Bank or
Building Society to pay by Direct Debit
Please fill in the whole form using a ball point pen and send to:
Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. 230 Hatfield Road, St.Albans, Herts AL1 4LW
This Guarantee should be detached
and retained by the payer.
The Direct Debit
Guarantee
Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building Society Service User Number
To the Manager
Bank or Building Society
9 2 6 1 2 9
Address
FOR CAMRA OFFICIAL USE ONLY
This is not part of the instruction to your Bank or Building Society
Membership Number
Postcode
Name
Name(s) of Account Holder
Postcode
Branch Sort Code
Please pay Campaign For Real Ale Limited Direct Debits from the account
detailed on this instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit
Guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with Campaign For Real
Ale Limited and, if so will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society.
Instructions to your Bank or Building Society
Bank or Building Society Account Number
Signature(s)
Reference
Date
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account.
Page 22
This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building
societies that accept instructions to pay by Direct
Debits.
If there are any changes to the amount, date or
frequency of your Direct Debit The Campaign for
Real Ale Ltd will notify you 10 working days in advance
of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed.
If you request The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd to collect
a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will
be given to you at the time of the request
If an error is made in the payment of your Direct
Debit by The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd or your bank
or building society, you are entitled to a full and
immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank
or building society
- If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you
must pay it back when The Campaign For Real Ale Ltd
asks you to
You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply
contacting your bank or building society.Written
confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.
Mick and Suzi Bushell Welcome You to
THE DRUM INN
Pub, Restaurant, Camping & Caravanning Site ~ Stone Street, Stanford North, TN25 6DN
We Don't Have
• Fruit Machines
• Juke Box
• Television in the Main Bar
• Pool Table
• Game Machines
We Do Have
• Up to four Real Ale's at
any one time
• Home Cooked Food at
Reasonable Prices
• Large Beer Garden
• Small Function Room
• Occasional Live Music
• Camp Site with Facilities
• Bike Club on Tuesday
The Drum Inn is a three hundred year old
building with many of it's original
features, including two working fire
places that makes for a relaxing
atmosphere. Serving an ever changing
supply of Award Winning Guest Ales to
sample, as well as Traditional Fresh
Cooked Pub Food seven days a week.
All Clubs and Societies welcome.
Westernhanger Railway Station is less
than one mile away
Food Served: Monday to Saturday 12 - 2:30 & 6 - 9pm, Sundays 12 - 4pm & 6 - 8pm, Booking Advisable
The Drum Inn, Stone Street, Stanford North, Ashford, Kent TN25 6DN
Tel: 01303 812125 - email: [email protected] - web: www.thedruminn.com
Folkestone’s First Micro-pub - the Firkin Ale House
Since the changes in licensing laws it has been easier for responsible publicans to open
basic beer houses in unused shops. The first in Kent being the Lifeboat Ale and Cider House
in Margate, with others opening in Ramsgate, Deal, Westgate on Sea and Broadstairs with
others in the pipe line.
Folkestone’s first micro-pub opened at 5 p.m. on Saturday 17th November, - The Firkin Ale
House, Cheriton Place, (opposite the Vine `Café and Bookshop). The licensee, Neil King,
formerly at the Telegraph pub in Deal, has planned the Firkin Ale House to be a community
pub, with the emphasis on good conversation and the consumption of traditional local
products and like other micro-pubs in Kent no mobile phones, musak, television to interfere
with good conversation. There is no, lager, spirits or alcopops on offer.
All of the beers are from Kent micro-breweries, with upto four available at any time. On the
opening evening these were; Hop Fuzz English Ale from Hythe, Canterbury Brewery at the
Foundry’s Haka, Old Dairy Silver Top from Rolvenden and Nelson Brewery’s Nelsons Blood
from Chatham, with Kent Brewery Cobnut , Gadd’s Dark Conspiracy and Wantsum Hengist
on next.
A traditional cider, Dudda’s Tum Medium and traditional perry from O’Duddas, were also
available at the opening, together with three wines, basic snacks, crisps, nuts, pickled onions
and pickled eggs.
Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday 11.30 to 2.30pm and 4.30 to 9pm (10 pm on Friday
and Saturday) and Sunday 11.30 to 3 p.m.
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 23
Pub News
Ashford Area
Congratulations to Lynda and Clive Guest
who have recently celebrated twenty five
years running the Locomotive at Ashford,
they took over the tenancy on 29 October
1987 with Whitbread Fremlins Ltd, the pub
is now owned by Enterprise Inns, but Clive
has the benefit of a Whitbread Laurel Lease
which he has recently renewed, and gives
him the benefit of a cask ale free of tie.
Two days of celebrations took place at the
pub with music and a free buffet, which
was enjoyed by all that attended. We would
like to thank Clive and Lynda for running a
superb traditional pub for the last twenty
five years and look forward to enjoying many
more years under their expert stewardship.
Does 25 years in the same pub make him the
longest serving landlord in Ashford?
Kirsty is leaving Oranges at the end of
the year and it is rumoured that Shepherd
Neame are looking to sell the pub. Kirsty
claims that business has been affected by
Platform 5, a non-real ale establishment,
taking their music business.
The Swan has a new landlord after Harry left
in September.
The Alfred Arms freehold is now for sale,
look out for another corner shop if you don’t
use it.
Folkestone Area
Commuters from Folkestone West and
other locals are pleased to see the Nailbox
reopened after refurbishment in August.
The layout is similar but with one entrance
to a horseshoe shaped bar with drinking
areas either side. There is more seating,
an enlarged garden, new furniture in the
decking area, a flatter car park and real
timber behind the bar appropriate to the
age of building (1867). The licensees, Mick
and Natalie, are continuing the tradition of
support for a number of charities and have a
lunch menu on Saturdays. Most importantly,
there are now three traditional beers –
Master Brew, Spitfire and the breweries
seasonal ale.
In addition to the regular Harvey’s Best
Bitter and Greene King IPA at the Guildhall
the regular beers have recently included
Wadworth’s Horizon, Tim Taylor’s Landlord
and Stonehenge Great Bustard.
Regular beers at Chambers during the
Autumn were Adnam’s Lighthouse and
Wantsum 1381, with a variety of guests
including Cotleigh Triumph, Adnam’s Bitter
and Broadside and Gadd’s Dark Conspiracy
and Wantsum Yellow Tail plus traditional
ciders from Biddenden and East Stour (Brain
Biter), also Black Prince (with blackcurrant)
and a Chilli Con Cider(!).
The Pullman had a beer festival in October
with 24 beers. During the following weeks
London Pride and ESB from Fuller’s, Timothy
Taylor’s Havercake and Whitstable East
India Pale Ale, Westgate Brewery, Bury St
Edmunds (a Greene king subsidiary) Gangly
Ghoul 4.2% have been available. Classical
jazz at the piano is promised for weekends in
December and January.
Recent visits to the British Lion found beers
from Greene King and Young’s, Hobgoblin,
traditional ciders and Everard’s “The Beer
With No Name”.
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 24
Hythe Area
The Globe, in addition to supplying a
changing range of Shepherd Neame beers,
has recently installed a bar billiard table in
the public bar, which is believed to be the
only one in Hythe.
The Red Lion has recently been selling Old
Dairy beers, on a recent visit Red Top was on
offer. Whilst when delivering the last edition
of Marsh Mash, the Carousel Lounge had
Gold Top available.
The White Hart continues to offer a local
Kent beer alongside Greene King IPA.
Recently Ben has taken advantage of the
trading arrangement between Canterbury
Ales and Gadd’s and had LocoIPA and
Foundry available during October, both
being in excellent condition when I tried a
few pints of them before exercising my bus
pass.
Canterbury Ales are brewed at the foundry
pub on Canterbury and a 10% discount on
both drink and food is available in the pub for
CAMRA members.
The Marsh and the Hills
The Farriers Arms, Mersham appears to
have stopped selling National beers and are
providing beers from other Kent Breweries
to supplement their in-house brewed beers.
Abigale, Hop Fuzz and Canterbury Ales
being available when on recent visits.
Botolph’s Bridge, West Hythe, had
Woodeforde’s Wherry on offer in September.
A rare Norfolk beer to be found on the
Marsh, which was available alongside
the usual suspects, Greene King IPA and
Doombar.
After a long and protracted negotiations
with Enterprise Inns over the sale of the
Railway Hotel adjacent to Appledore
Station, Robert and Alison have left the pub,
which is now closed and the freehold is for
sale at £365,000.
In New Romney, the recently re-opened
Plough has five draught beers usually
available, Bombardier, Loddon Hoppit and
Ringwood Fortyniner being the regulars,
with two changing guest beers, currently at
£2.90/pint.
Back to my old hobby-horse for basic pub
sandwiches at reasonable prices, I have been
informed that the Star, St Mary in the Marsh
is now selling well filled rolls at £1.50 each.
The Shepherd and Crook, Burmarsh, has
recently been offering Hop Fuzz beers at
£3.20/pint, English Ale being in excellent
condition on a visit in November.
The Downs
The Five Bells, East Brabourne, has
increased their supplier portfolio. On a
visit in September, Goody Ales from Herne
were available and the Good Health was
exceptionally good at 3.6%.
The Kings Arms, Elham, continues to sell
local ales from Hopdeamon in excellent
condition, usually Golden Braid and Incubus
alongside the regular Harvey’s Sussex Best.
On a visit in September to the Coach and
Horses, Lyminge, a pub well worth seeking
out on what was the main road before the
railway arrived and just off the High Street,
was offering Harvey’s Sussex Best, London
Pride and Hobgoblin; the Harvey’s being in
good condition.
The Tiger, Stowting, continues to offer local
ales, Old Dairy, Abigale, Gadd’s and Hop Fuzz
beers on recent visits. The Gadd’s Green Hop
was particularly enjoyable when I visited
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 25
The George Inn
because I was abroad when the Green Hop
Ale Festival was on.
Ron at the Bowl, Hastingleigh, held another
successful beer festival over the August Bank
Holiday, when 14 barrels of Kentish beer was
consumed over the 2 days and £1,220 was
raised for Leukaemia Research.
Tenterden area
Very little appears to have happened on
the pub scene in the Tenterden area - are
they all recovering from the Jubilee and the
Olympics? The only snippet is that Emma
who used to work for Ray when he ran the
Swan at Wittersham and then ran the Crown
at St Michaels, is now back at the Swan, but
this time she is in charge.
That’s it, from Bob the Beer
Jo and Dave welcome you to the George Inn
A traditional two-bar village local serving
fine ales and good home cooked food
The number 2 bus route between Ashford
and Tenterden stops at The George Bus Stop!
Annual St George’s Day Beer Festival
The George Inn
The Street, Bethersden, near Ashford
Kent, TN26 3AG Tel: 01233 820235
Listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2013
In Memoriam
IIt is with regret that Abigale Brewery in
Ashford has ceased trading with the loss of
an excellent range of beers.
We understand that the brewery is for sale so
maybe like the Phoenix, we may again have
a brewery in Ashford.
Bar Billiards
Some time ago I was asked if I knew of any
pubs in the branch that had a bar billiard
table. So far I have found three, the Globe
Hythe, the Star, St Mary in the Marsh and the
Black Horse, Monks Horton.
Are you aware of any others that I can add
to the list and publish in a future edition of
Marsh Mash?
Bob
Open from midday every day
5 real ales, great food, large restaurant
very large open fireplace, large beer garden
facebook.com/ThePloughAtNewRomney
Dymchurch Road, New Romney, TN28 8UF
Telephone: 01797 363636
Local breweries often improve pub takings and reduce beer miles
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 26
Kill the Duty
Escalator
Thank you to all those who
signed the e-petition, which
numbered over 100,000
signatures and caused the
matter to be debated in Parliament. This
shows the feeling amongst the responsible
drinking public about pub price rises due to
unreasonable hikes in the percentage taken
by the Government in duty and VAT, over
£1.00/pint. This fantastic Parliamentary
debate occurred on 1st November and
CAMRA’s Chairman Colin Valentine
commented after the debate as follows:
‘CAMRA was delighted to see the
groundswell of support from MPs from all
parties in today’s debate for a review of
the damaging beer duty escalator. Passing
a motion for the Government to conduct
a thorough review of the economic and
social impact of the escalator is a major step
forward for the industry and sends out a
clear message from inside Westminster that
enough is enough.
‘At a time when Britain’s pub closure rate is
back on the rise, any review must take into
account the 5,800+ pubs which have closed
since the Government’s punitive escalator
system was introduced in 2008. It must
also be reinforced that further planned
increases will bring in no additional revenue
for the next 3 years, and will only serve the
purpose of harming many communities
across Britain when their local pub is no
longer able to run a viable business.
‘Building on the success of today’s debate,
CAMRA will be upping the ante and looking
ahead to its Mass Parliamentary Lobby on
December 12th, where over 1,000 beer
drinkers and pub goers will be descending
upon Westminster to ensure MPs keep
the pressure on Government to conduct
a proper review and scrap the beer duty
escalator.’
Our local Folkestone MP does not seem to
want to put his head above the parapet and
side with the general electorate, CAMRA
and the Beer industry to oppose a further
extortionate hike in beer tax that was
introduced by the last Government. Damian
Collins states in a recent letter to me that
this Government inherited the largest deficit
in the G20 and is paying over £120million
per day in debt interest. He claims that
revenues from the beer excise duty makes
an important contribution to reducing
countries deficit.
I believe, that the beer tax hike has actually
reduced the revenue to the Government,
resulting in over 6,000 pubs closing
and hence increased un-employment
which has resulted to increased weekly
unemployment and other State benefits
being paid by the government. It would be
interesting to see what the financial benefits
to the debt reduction really are if the true
costs of central government and local
government actual expenditure really is as
a result of 2% above inflation beer duty and
VAT increases over the last 4 years.
If the Government were to increase the duty
on spirits to the level where a measure of
whisky etc. was the same as a pint of beer,
as it was when I was young, then there
would be less of drinking in unsupervised
places, rowdy behaviour which requires a
significant police presence at the tax payers
expense in town centres and would most
likely generate more tax revenue than the
increases in beer duty.
CAMRA have organised a parliamentary
lobby on 12th December to appeal against
any further increase in beer duty, so whilst
it will either be short notice or too late
to register or to attend the lobby, please
canvass you MP to object to any further
rises in beer duty which will result in at least
another 10p on a pint from the next budget.
Bob (Branch Chairman)
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 27
Beer Escalator Makes Portuguese Press
Whilst CAMRA and the Pub and Brewery
Industry in general have forced a debate,
after achieving over 100,000 signatures in
the recent e-petition which took place on
November 1st, it also attracted the attention
of a Portuguese national newspaper the
“CORREIO da manha”.
Our ex chairman who has retired to Portugal,
sent the attached paper cutting from
the 29th October edition which, roughly
translated, as he is still learning the finer
points of Portuguese” is as follows;BEER – a progressive increase in tax on beer
in Great Britain since 2008, a rise of 40% on
the price of a “pint” (a glass of beer) with
disastrous effects. Sales have fallen by 15%
and 6,000 pubs have closed. A petition to
freeze the tax goes forward for debate this
Thursday”
So it appears that our fellow Common
Market Countries are interested in the over
inflation beer tax rises.
Letters
We have recently received a letter from Mervyn
Vallens, dated 15th November as follows:Dear Sir,
On Monday I went into the County Hotel
for a pint and for the first time I saw Marsh
Mash.
I brought the magazine home to read. I
could not believe my eyes on page 4 there
was an article on “HOME COOKED FOOD”,
For the last 2-3 years I have asked many of
my friends and family what is home cooked
food. Nobody can give me an answer. I
often snap back and say to them there is no
answer because it is not cooked at the pub,
where the hell is it cooked.
This home cooked gimmick gets my back up
and the stupid advert should be banned.
Take page 9 in your Marsh Mash. The White
Hart advert “Delicious Home Cooked Food”,
page 20 The George Inn advert “Good Home
Cooked Food” page 25 The Drum Inn advert
“Home Cooked Food at reasonable prices”
I enjoyed reading your article on this
modern day stupid advert but how do we
stop this as it is getting worse by the day,
nearly all pubs I see selling food are using
this stupid advert.
It is like the weather forecast I have heard
earlier this year on the radio quote “SPOTTY
SHOWERS AND GRASS FROST” what next!!!
But I enjoyed reading Marsh Mash.
Editors note. I can vouch for the White Hart,
George Inn and the Drum that the food is
cooked on the premises by professional chefs.
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 28
We take real ale seriously
3 regular real ales plus guest ales
on tap at any time
Christmas Menu
now available
1 Swan Street, Wittersham, Tenterden, Kent TN30 7PH
on the B2082, between Tenterden (6mi) and Rye (6mi)
www.swanwittersham.com, tel: 01797 270 913
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 29
How The World Has changed
Most of the Branch Committee think I’m
a dromedary, with my head in the sand
and that I should bring myself into the 21st
Century.
When I started work at the GPO Research
Laboratories, I worked with Tommy Flowers,
who built the first programmable computer
at Bletchley Park during the War. He went
on to develop the first Premium Bond
electronic machine “ERNIE” and the first pure
electronic telephone exchange installed at
Highgate Wood in North London. My first
involvement in computers was designing
a simulator to train Postmen in typing
Postcodes into a machine that then enabled
automated letter sorting. Subsequently I
worked on embryo data networks using
telephone lines at speeds between 200bits/
sec and 2Mbits/sec depending upon the
line quality. Not much has changed in some
parts!!! In those days it was quicker to send
bulk data on magnetic tape reels in a van
even without motorways between computer
centres than directly connect mainframe
computers.
Recently a couple of computer engineers
in Bethersden have restored an ICT 1301
computer of c1963 vintage, to working
order. The computer weighs 5 tons and
occupies some 25 square feet of floor space
and uses 13 kilowatts of electricity. The
input medium is 12bit, 80 column Hollerith
Punch Cards and the main memory 12 Kbit
of ferrite cores. The backing store is a 72
Kbyte drum, the forerunner of discs and 1in.
magnetic tape drives capable of storing 1.5
Mbytes of data on each reel. In those days
this was the state of the art in transistor
based computers alongside other Great
British manufactured computers, the LEO
(Lyons Electronic Office) the first business
computer and the Elliot 803, which were
mainly sold to Universities, of which two of
remain.
Why am I rambling on? Well the younger
members of the Committee have for
sometime been maintaining a branch
website www.camra-afrm.org.uk which
provides information on all the local pubs
and branch functions, but now we can also
be contacted via facebook, twitter and
through our “Yahoo” Group at data speeds
far faster than 2 Mbits/sec and without
being connected to a telephone cable.
My son the other day, whilst sampling the
range of Brodie’s locally brewed cask ales
at £2.45/pint in the William the Fourth in
Leyton (home of the brewery), pointed out
that his fancy mobile phone over which he
waved his thumb, no typing, claimed it had
more computing power than the ICT 1301,
but you can’t warm your meat pie on top of
it when working the night shift.
If you have one of these smart phones you
can now download the 2013 GBG to locate
GBG Pubs, Breweries and Beers using a
“Good Beer Guide Mobile” app for Apple and
Android ™ devices wherever you are plus
a number of other features. It’s available
for download from the Apple App Store
or Google Play Store, I’m reliably told. For
more information visit www.camra,org,uk/
gbgmobile.
The 2013 GBG will also be made available
in ePUB and Kindle formats. For more
information and details of where to buy it go
to www.camra.org.uk/gbg.
The Cask Marque organisation also has an
app for finding pubs with its accreditation.
Also it provides beer lists for pubs and
descriptions of beers from Cyclops database.
It’s available for iPhone and Android devices,
but I’m not aware of a website sales address.
So if you have a clever phone you can now
download apps that will enable you to
always find a pub selling cask ale anywhere
in the country, but I still prefer to lug the
paper copy of the GBG with me on my
travels.
Bob the Chairman
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 30
Marsh Mash Information
Produced by the Ashford, Folkestone and
Romney Marsh Branch of the Campaign for
Real Ale Ltd. (CAMRA)
Circulation 1800
Editors: Bob Martin & Keith Johnson
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0845 388 1062
Contributors: Bob Martin, Peter
Chamberlain, Chris Excel, Michael Line,
Shirley Johnson, Keith Johnson, Stephen
Rawlings, Nigel North and Bob Thompson.
Contributions, letters, pub reports and news
are always welcome. Please write to Marsh
Mash at: The Cottage, The Green, Saltwood,
Hythe, Kent CT21 4PS, or
E-mail: [email protected]
Views expressed are not necessary those of
the Editors, CAMRA Ltd. or the Branch. The
existence of this publication in a particular
outlet does not imply an endorsement of it
by AF&RM CAMRA.
Branch Contacts
Chairman: Bob Martin
Treasurer: Stephen Rawlings
Secretary: Michael Line
Membership Secretary: Virginia Hodge
Branch Contact: Stephen Rawlings
Telephone: 07885 218972
Branch Webmaster: Keith Johnson
Pubs Officer: Justin Nelson
Advertising: Bob Martin
Website: www.camra-afrm.org.uk
Yahoo Group : For all branch members
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/AFRM_Camra
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Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 31
Easter Beer Festival
Thurs 28 March - Mon 1 April
Marsh Mash Winter 2012
Page 32